The Cougars took the field, fired up and ready to defend home turf.
Early in the first quarter, quarterback Jazel Riley IV went deep to Jomar Adams, but the pass was broken up by Pirate defensive back Josiah Meggs, shutting down what looked like a sure touchdown.
Riley quickly bounced back, connecting with wideout Jared Mims for a ten-yard strike into the end zone to put COC on the board.
Cougars take the early 7-0 lead.
The Pirates answered right back. Keanu Vasquez fired a five-yard touchdown to tight end Joseph Flannigan, tying the game at seven apiece in the second quarter.
Riley kept his rhythm, finding Jomar Adams on a forty-yard bomb for his second touchdown of the night. COC back in control. COC lead, 13-7
In the fourth quarter, Riley called his own number, weaving through defenders and punching it in for another Cougar touchdown as COC extends the lead 20-7.
But Orange Coast wouldn’t go quietly. Vasquez launched a twenty-yard dart to Zain Prater to keep the Pirates alive, closing the gap 20-13
The pirates struck again, Vasquez finding Grady Chancellor in the corner of the end zone. They went for two and converted, bringing the score to 20-19.
But time ran out, and COC escaped with a narrow victory.
“We gave them an opportunity, we left the door open, and they took it,
They ran down the field, scored, went for two, and they probably should’ve won that game,” said Ted Lacenda, COC Head Football Coach.
COC has improved to a 3-5 record and is enjoying a 2-game winning streak after a gritty win over Orange Coast, which remains winless at 0-8 this season.
Next, the Cougars will travel to No. 1 Golden West College (8-0, 5-0) on Saturday, November 1st.
